Improvement in seats and backs for chairs



t R. H. PLASS.

SEATS AND BACKS FOR CHAIRS, &c.

No. 185,576. Patented Dec.19, 1876.

O O O O 0 Q G O O O O 9 O 0 0 G O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 00 O 0 Q 0 0 O O Xnuentor. fittest fl/b fl m/ a flw flw 1 m New York,city and county of New York, have REUBEN H. PLASS, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD OF HIS RIGHT TO 0. E. L. HOLMES, OF SAMEPLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEATS AND BACKS FQR CHAIRS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. lS5.576-, datedDecember 19, 1876; application filed November 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN H. PLASS, of

invented an Improved Seat and Back for Chairs, &c., of which thefollowing is the specification The object of my improvement is a seat orback for chairs, lounges, &c., of greater strength, durability,. andrigidity,. and less liable to be injuriously att'ected by the atmospherethan those of the ordinary character.

Hcretofore veneers, coated paper, metal, and other materials have beenemployed as substitutes for cane and leather in the manufacture of seatsand backs for chairs, 860., but to a greater or less degree have failedto meet the requirements of a practical article. The paper, apart fromthe expense of treating it, does not possess the requisite strength anddurability; metal is expensive and must be covered; veneers are liableto crack and splinter, and can only be employed when several layers orsheets are combined.

My improved seat, which is liable to none of these objections, consistsof vegetable fiber formed into a sheet, which is tough, elastic, lightin weight, flexible, yet possessing the requisite stifl'ness, extremelydurable, and of any required color. The sheet ismadefrom the pulp bytreating the 1atter,jti's has heretofore been commonly done, with asolution of chloride of zinc, tin, calcium, &c., separating the pulpfrom the liquor, consolidating, and drying slowly. Suitable coloringmatter may be added, and the pulp, after treating with the chloride, maybe washed in alkalinewater, and a gum solution may be added to imparthardness. in some instances the material may be embossed while soft, soas to present an ornamental surface. The degree of hardness isdetermined by the Strength of the materials used, and varies accordingto the situations in which the articles are to be used, being harder forcar-seats and garden-seats than for chair-seats, lounge-backs, &c. Thematerial thus prepared is termed vulcanized fiber, and may be used insheets or strips, solid or perforated, and applied to either the bottomsor backs of chairs, lounges, and other furniture.

I do not claim vulcanizediiber, as that is not my invention. Myinvention relates only to the improvement of chair-seats, backs, &c.,and consists in the application of the material herein named, in themanner set forth.

I claim as a new manufacture-- A seat or back for chairs, lounges, &c.,consisting, in whole or in part, of vulcanized tiberthat is, vegetablefiber prepared by treating it with chloride of zinc, or its equivalent,consolidating and drying, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

REUBEN H. PLASS. Witnesses:

JOHN WATSON, MICHAEL DILLON.

